Quotes

A woman with confidence, who knows what she wants, is referred to as a bitch. A man who knows what he wants is assertive, inspiring, a leader.

I think England has always been - and I mean this in the most loving way - very pent-up and there are things that we don't talk about. But moving forwards in the 21st century, there are things that we need to talk about.

[on Fifty Shades of Grey (2015)] Fifty shades of banality.

[on ageism] You've got to give me a really damn good reason why somebody, who is in the prime of their career and are doing really good work, why on earth they should stop? Are you going to tell a male who is at the top of his game in whatever domain, that he needs to step down and retire?

[on Princess Diana] A great role model for women.

If it wasn't for Australia, I would never have been able to have been catapulted internationally and to have done the things that I've been able to do. It was because of Australia that I've done that.

It was 40 years ago and there were no ethnic faces on [Australian] television. It was an extraordinary apprenticeship. Young Talent Time was inclusive and welcoming. The only downside of Young Talent Time was when I was trying to transition to an adult.

[recalling her upbringing] It was a very Italian household, it was a very traditional household. There was a lot of love but there was a lot of discipline. And there was no room for pretentiousness. Really, there just wasn't.

I don't know what I would do if I couldn't write and sing. It makes me who I am, regardless of where I happen to be or what language I'm speaking. It has done since I wrote my first song and sang it to myself in the shower. It's as natural for me as breathing.

The French get me because I'm Latin, I have that feisty thing they totally comprehend. The difference with Australia is that the Anglo-Saxon culture is not programmed to be ignited by that. Somebody who is passionate and fiery in Australia, they call you pretentious or arrogant or a bit of a diva. But can you tell me what is diva-ish about somebody who is passionate?

[after the collapse of her first marriage] I must deserve all this pain for something I've done somewhere in the past. It's all my fault - I'm just a bad person who deserves everything I get.

Because I'd worked so hard as a kid, there were parts of my psychological make-up that I didn't develop. Self-analysis, discernment, self-confidence, that all came to me only around 33 or 34, when I really began to dig through the layers.

[on Daniel Andrews] When it comes time to vote for those that we choose to work for us, perhaps next time around we pay a little bit more attention as to who we wish to be at the steering wheel. Because quite honestly, it has been the greatest disappointment when a city as beautiful as ours, which was deemed the most liveable in the world. When you look at it now, it's not at all the most liveable city in the world. I really hope that when it comes to the next election, people take the time to think about who it is they want to actually direct this state.